#FIRSTLOOK: (S)KiDS MAKES NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AT SPARK ANIMATION 2024

Featuring songs from the viral band Rare Americans. This animated punk rock musical is the first animated feature film for Crooked City Studios and Solis Animation. The Film makes its premiere in North America at SPARK ANIMATION 2024!

Set in 1993, (S)KiDS follows a group of disaffected teens navigating their last year of high school as they uncover a dark truth about their Principal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Crooked City Studios (@crookedcitystudios)

DIRECTOR: Les Solis
ANIMATION DIRECTOR: Lou Solis
WRITER: Les Solis (screenplay)
STORY BY: Jared Priestner and James Priestner
PRODUCER: Leah Solis
EDITORS: Greg Zajac and Sean Janisse
ORIGINAL SONGS: Rare Americans
ORIGINAL SCORE: Jan Cajka

STARRING: James Priestner, Will Letos, Les Solis, Cameron Lovell, Michele Garceau, Duran Ritz

“Bringing (S)KiDS to life was a whirlwind two-year adventure. This 80+ minute punk rock musical was realized through the dedicated efforts of 20 talented artists who became dear friends. As we prepare for the North American premiere at Spark Animation, we reflect on current events, with protests erupting on college campuses worldwide, often met with brutal crackdowns. The story of (S)KiDS and its punk rock idealism debuts at a time when younger generations are more aware and empathetic than ever, challenging our moral courage to speak out,” says (S)KiDS screenwriter-director Les Solis.

“(S)KiDS is my favorite recording experience in my career. When we started writing (S)KiDS two years ago, I knew it was a bold project to tackle. How many independent bands have you heard of making a feature-length animated punk rock musical?! The recording process was intense and, short of a better word, almost magical. We recorded 23 songs in less than three weeks, working 12 hours a day. We set up a makeshift studio at my brother’s house, stayed there, ate every meal together, and listened to the songs we just recorded as we ate. It was a collective effort by everyone to get this project over the finish line! I am so excited for our fans to see it around the world,” adds Rare Americans frontman and (S)KiDS co-creator James Priestner.

“(S)KiDS was born out of a collaboration with independent band Rare Americans. As an independently run studio ourselves, the story of being misunderstood outcasts rang true for both our camps. Having our North Americna Premiere at Spark Animation helps to assure us that maybe our little group of Canadian punk-rockers, in torn jeans and safety-pinned shirts, might actually belong somewhere. Maybe there are a lot more outcasts like us than we realize,” says (S)KiDS animation director Lou Solis.

“We are extremely excited that (S)KiDS will North American premiere at this year’s Spark Animation. It’s such a unique film that features entirely new songs by Rare Americans and showcases our animation, which is aesthetically different from a lot of styles currently out there. We’re really hoping that this labour of love will broaden our reach and continue to unlock more opportunities to welcome more people into this special community we’ve been building these last few years,” comments (S)KiDS producer Leah Solis.